Play Streets Ciclovía event will turn a lane of Esplanade Avenue into bike-friendly path this Saturday

October 22, 2013

NEW ORLEANS, LA – On Saturday, October 26, the City of New Orleans Fit NOLA partnership, with support from the Blue Cross Blue Shield Association and Partnership for a Healthier America, will host a bike-friendly Play Streets event on Esplanade Avenue.

The Play Streets Ciclovía, presented in conjunction with Bike Easy, will close one lane of Esplanade between North Claiborne Avenue and North Broad Street for a morning of fun physical activities, including a bike rodeo, mini cyclo-cross, hula hooping, skateboarding, yoga, pilates, soccer, and more. The event will also include art activities, nutritional fitness resources, community resources tables, cooking demonstrations and a second line by the Bone Tone Brass Band.

This is the fifth and final Play Streets event this year, made possible through a grant received by the New Orleans Health Department, and the first ciclovía in New Orleans, a term that translates from Spanish into English as “bike path.”

“Through Fit NOLA, we’ve made a commitment for New Orleans to become one of the top 10 fittest cities by 2018, and events like Play Streets are a great way to encourage kids – and their families – to play and become more active,” said New Orleans Health Commissioner Dr. Karen DeSalvo. “Partnership for Healthier America, Blue Cross Blue Shield of Louisiana and local organizations like Bike Easy have been wonderful partners in helping bring attention to the importance of leading a healthy lifestyle.”

"Bike Easy is excited to partner with the City of New Orleans on this first ever ciclovia type event. Hundreds of cities around the world have used this tool to reduce crime, improve business and help create community. We're proud to help bring this movement to New Orleans," said Jamie Wine, Bike Easy's Executive Director.

The ciclovía also is sponsored by the Louisiana Public Health Institute and Kids Walk Coalition.

The first two Play Streets event took place in April 2013 at A.L. Davis Park in Central City and McDonogh Playground in Algiers. This month, Conrad Park in Hollygrove and Joe W. Brown Memorial Park in New Orleans East hosted the third and fourth Play Streets events.

WHO: Dr. Karen DeSalvo, New Orleans Health Commissioner

Neighborhood residents

Community partners

WHAT: Play Streets Ciclovía presented with Bike Easy

WHEN: 9 a.m. – 12 p.m.

WHERE: Esplanade Avenue at Bayou Road

Note: The lakebound side of Esplanade Avenue will be closed to through traffic between North Claiborne Avenue, and up to Bayou Road and North Broad Street between 9 a.m. and 12 p.m. to accommodate the event.